Jason Heyward Out 4-6 Weeks With Broken Jaw

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Braves outfielder Jason Heyward will miss the next 4-6 weeks, or most (if not all) of the rest of the regular season, with a broken jaw. Heyward was hit in the 6th inning of today’s game by a Jon Niese fastball that sailed right over his front shoulder and hit just below his ear flap. Heyward immediately went down and was on his back on the field for some time. You could see him spitting up blood while he lay there being attended to by Braves trainer Jeff Porter. He eventually walked off the field under his own power and was taken to a hospital for x-rays and a diagnosis. Jason is supposed to fly back to Atlanta for surgery on Thursday afternoon.

The injury couldn’t come at a worse time for Jason, as he was probably playing the best baseball of his career. Since being moved into the lead-off spot on July 27th against the Cardinals, Heyward has a slash line of .353/.421/.600/1.021 to go along with 24 runs, 5 HRs & 15 RBI in 22 games. The Braves have gone 18-4 in those games. Jason has been the steadying influence in the lead-off spot that the Braves have lacked all season, and since his move there, they have averaged over 5 runs per game.

Fortunately for the Braves, they already have the division title, and a playoff spot, wrapped up. I imagine that Justin Upton will now be moved over to right-field with BJ Upton and Jordan Schafer sharing time in center and Evan Gattis and Joey Terdoslavich will get the bulk of the playing time in left. We might even see BJ and Jordan in the lineup at the same time. Now would be an excellent time for BJ Upton to finally start swinging the bat and for Evan Gattis to break out of his slump.

It would be ideal for Jason to be able to come back for the final week of the season to get some at bats to try to get back in the groove, but that would probably be the best case scenario. We should see him back for the playoffs, which start exactly 6 weeks from today, but what will we get out of him? He will undoubtedly lose weight and strength while he is out, which is was really cost him earlier this season when he was out for a month after his appendectomy. I imagine he could possibly be a little timid after coming back from such and injury and it could take him a while to get comfortable again at the plate, especially against lefties.

Let’s all hope for a full and speedy recovery for Jason, cause the Braves are going to need him to succeed in the playoffs.